Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist are paying visits to the Australian cricket team at Lord's this week. Captain Michael Clarke says they are most welcome, for any tips and insights they have, and because their mere presence is a fillip.

It is also, at a level Clarke could not admit to, particularly timely. This regal foursome embodies the verity that cricket teams rarely are as unified in one grand cause as their rhetoric would have the world believe, and as the world would like to believe about them.

It is not even necessary for everyone to like each other. This is truer of cricket than of other sports, because cricketers spend a great deal more time than other sportspeople in each other's exclusive company, and the familiarity inexorably breeds contempt.

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Everyone was aware of rifts and factions within the Australian team when it was dominant, and the West Indies who preceded them at No.1 were even more internally riven. David Warner was wrong to throw a punch at English batsman Joe Root, but at least he was from the other team.

A house divided against itself can stand for a remarkably long time, as long as it is winning. For the best contemporary example, look no further than Australia's current opponent, and what can best be called its accommodation of Kevin Pietersen.

But when a team is losing, personality clashes are seen not as a corollary, but a cause. Australia was gallant at Trent Bridge, but now has lost five Tests in a row, its worst streak for nearly 30 years. So the emergence of Mickeyleaks on the eve of the Lord's Test is looked upon as a plunge into crisis.

But look at it through the players' eyes. The fact of the Clarke/Watson rift, and other fault lines, is not news to them. Nor is the claim - strenuously denied - that it was Watson who dobbed in Warner.

The language in the leaked log of claims is purple, but that is only a colour. Mickey Arthur is distant from the Australian team now, in time and place. The figures attached to his claim might raise eyebrows, but not hair.

Clarke and Watson co-operate professionally. At Trent Bridge, someone watched them for signs of coolness, but saw none. They stood at first and second slip, consulted about tactics, sometimes saw a funny side. In England's second innings, Watson bowled a long, mean spell - his best for years - to dry up England. A disgruntled cricketer would not do that. If it wasn't for the captain, it was for Australia, and for himself.

He was not a good appointment as vice-captain because he always seems to be fully absorbed by the effort to take charge of his own game, leaving little of himself for others. For some cricketers, that is just how it is. Now that regime is in the past, too.

Clarke said on Tuesday that the Australian team, buoyant after its forward showing at Trent Bridge, was now more harmonious than at any other recent time. The esprit de corps was ''magnificent''. Though not a politician, he could not have been unaware of the subtext to what he was saying. He specifically endorsed coach Darren Lehmann for fostering unity. It is not hard to imagine that one of Lehmann's earliest acts as coach was figuratively to bang the heads of Clarke and Watson together, demanding they put their petty differences aside. A new coach has that licence.

New vice-captain Brad Haddin also was adamant this team is united. He was less inclined to praise Lehmann exclusively, saying there has been a singularity of purpose since day one of the tour (when Arthur still was coach).

Clarke and and Haddin were politely impatient to put the question behind them. Listening and watching, it seemed it was not because of embarrassment or reticence, but because they were at Lord's, and were eager to resume a Test series that had started so vibrantly at Trent Bridge, and were in a mind and mood not for infighting, but fighting England.

For Warne, Waugh et al, that was cause enough for match-winning single-mindedness.

82 comments

Whilst Clarke is captain of this team there will always be questions of leadership. Less giggle, more niggle from him would be nice

Commenter

Gaz

Location

Yarrawonga

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 7:38AM

Clarke is a super batsman but NOT Captain material unfortunately.

Commenter

MaccaSydney

Location

Sydney

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 8:52AM

Arthur has an agenda so just ignore him. But you are right - Clarke just seems to think making all those millions is a joke. How he throws away reviews is a disgrace. He should watch Roger Federer and see how many challenges he makes and how many are right - hasten slowly Clarkey.

Commenter

the Truth

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 9:09AM

Agree. Case in point Clarke's departure before the end of the series in India. Yes, he was injured and not in the side, but a real captain would have been in the stands and the dressing rooms at lunch. It was only a matter of days. He didn't need to leave mid test for surgery. Clearly, he just didn't want to be there. Put that together with the Bingle fiasco...

Commenter

Oh Captain my captain.

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 9:33AM

On a completely unrelated topic. Second time SMH has used the term "fillip" in two days. New syntax standards at the SMH?

Commenter

DT

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 9:37AM

@ the Truth - you should take your own advice. Federer throws away challenges left, right and centre. He has a horrible track record with them. But maybe you've seen him recently and he's improved his usage. Guess that Bides well for Clarke then.

Commenter

quimby

Location

Sydney

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 9:43AM

Captain of any team is a person who can take wise decisions to lead a team with good spirit. But I don't see those characteristics in Clarke's sports career as well as his PERSONAL life. Just look at the decisions he took in his personal life...are they wise?? NOT AT ALL. So how can someone like that take correct decisions as a cricket captain..

Commenter

Thirdman

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 9:45AM

The cancer in the Australian team are Mickey Arthur, Michael Clarke and Pat Howard. Until all three are removed from leadership roles, the sickness in the Australian team will continue.

Commenter

bw

Location

Sydney

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 9:49AM

@bw+1But we should not stop there.Sutherland has overseen this and should bear responsibility.Hilditch should be retrospectively sacked too.

Commenter

nkelly

Date and time

July 17, 2013, 10:48AM

@Thirdman - did you not make any rash personal decisions in your younger days? I think Clarke has significantly grown up since his appointment as captain and now seems to be in a happy place in his personal life. Look how Ricky Ponting changed once he was in a good relationship.

We just lost a test match by only 14 runs that we were expected to get thrashed in and, who knows, with a little bit of luck would have won, and people want to have a go at him. I think he conducted himself magnificently by not making excuses, blaming DRS/umps, etc.